Topic summary
Communist Youth League of China
The Communist Youth League of China (CYLC; also known as the Young Communist League of China or simply the Communist Youth League or CYL) is a people's organization in the People's Republic of China for youth between the ages of 14 and 28, run by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).
The predecessor of the CYLC, the Shanghai Socialist Youth League, was founded in August 1920 by Chen Duxiu and Li Dazhao. Its national organization, the Socialist Youth League of China, was founded in 1922, initially under the command and financial backing of the Communist International. In January 1925, it was renamed to the Chinese Communist Youth League. During the Second Sino-Japanese War, it assisted the Second United Front. In November 1936, the Communist Youth League was reorganized into the Youth National Salvation Association. After the CCP won the Chinese Civil War, the CCP Central Committee announced the re-establishment of the Chinese New Democracy Youth League which changed its name to the Communist Youth League of China in 1957.
The league is organized in a pattern similar to the CCP. Its highest body is the National Congress held every five years, and when the National Congress is not in session, the Central Committee serves as the core power body. However, as the Central Committee usually only holds one meeting a year, most of the powers and work are controlled by the Standing Committee of the Central Committee and the Central Secretariat. The CYCL's leader is its First Secretary, who is an alternate member of the Central Committee of the CCP. The incumbent First Secretary is A Dong, appointed in May 2023. The Communist Youth League is also responsible for guiding the activities of the Young Pioneers (for children below the age of 14).
As of December 2025, there were 78.336 million Communist Youth League members. CYLC was historically seen as a vehicle that could promote the future careers of CCP officials, with these officials being collectively named the Tuanpai, also known as the Youth League Faction. Though prominent Youth League officials have held important posts within the CCP, most notably CCP general secretary Hu Jintao, the influence of the CYLC has decreased under CCP general secretary Xi Jinping.